Switch



1934- R. K. WINNING 1,970,828

SWITCH Filed June 10, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l R. K. WINNING Aug. 21, 1934.

SWITCH Filed June 10, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 dbtoz wag-0 Patented Aug. 21, 1934 UNITE smrss PTET FFEQE swrrcn Application June 10, 1929, Serial No. 363,713

8 Glaims.

1O trolled through a single small opening provided in the panel for the mounting of the switch. The invention has further reference to a design of switch suitable for control by a reciprocable rod such as may be operated through a small hole 5 in the panel as aforesaid. It is customary to provide switches with impositive detents for defining the several switch positions. I have found, however, that the particular type of switch to which this invention relates does not function satisfactorily with the ordinary arrangement of detent device. More specifically, therefore, it is my purpose to provide a three position switch in which the middle position only is defined by impositive detent means, the extreme positions heing defined by positive stops which offer no resistance to the initial starting movement of the switch.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved switch mounted on a panel which appears in horizontal nal head being removed.

Figure 6 is a corresponding view of the terminal head.

Figure '7 is a detail view in elevation of the inner face of the terminal head.

Figure 8 is a detail view in enlarged vertical section through the switch in the plane indicated at 88 of Fig. 2.

Figure 9 is an enlarged detail View in section in the plane indicated at 9-9 of Fig. 7.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

The switch is carried from panel 10 by a bracket 11 which is made of sheet metal and is L-shaped in plan. as shown in Fig. 1. The panel and the arm of the bracket, which lies adjacent thereto, are each provided with registerable openings having fiat sides at 12 and arcuate sides at 3 conforming in outline to the cross section of the flat faced bushing 15 as shown in Fig. 4. The arcuate peripheral portions of the bushing are threaded to receive nut 16 and the bushing is shouldered at 17 to receive a composite head which may be pressed against the panel by lock nut 16 to hold the bracket in place.

In the interests of economy it is preferred not to make the head of the bushing integral with the portion thereof which enters the panel. Accordingly such head comprises a washer 18 of relatively strong material having an elf-set and. apertured central portion engaging the shoulder 17 of the bushing. This washer is held in place against the shoulder and the bushing is exteriorly finished by the plate 19 which is spun over the end of the bushing and about the washer as shown in Fig. 3. The mounting device comprises the subject matter of my divisional application Serial No. 424,835 filed January 31, 1930.

The switch casing 20 is of the usual cupped form closed by a dielectric terminal head 21 carrying stationary terminals 22, 23 and 24. The switch casing is riveted at 25 to the bracket and has a central portion 26 pressed into tubular form and extends through an aperture in the bracket to provide a bearing sleeve for the rock shaft 27 which oscillates the switch actuator cup 28.

The switch actuator is screwed to rock shaft 27 and carries a dielectric member 29 socketed to receive the compression springs 30 which support the contact carrier 31 with its contacts 32 in positions for registry with the terminals 22, 23 and 24 of the terminal head 21. Lugs 33 on the rock shaft enter the actuator cup 28, as shown in Figures 5 and 8, to ensure the transmission of movement from the rock shaft to the actuator for the purpose of oscillating the contact carrier, rotative movement being transmitted to the carrier through the pins 34. V

The construction of the switch mechanism per se is well known with the exception of the combination of countersunk terminals with other 100 terminals not so treated. I

The limits of movement of the actuator and moving contact mechanism of the switch are defined by the stop lugs 37 struck up from the casing in the path of movement of lug 38 carried by the 105 actuator. Within its range of movement three stations or predetermined positions of the parts are provided for, these positions being illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 7. The dotted line represents one extreme of movement in which 110 the parts are in the off position, all circuits controlled by the switch being open. The broken line indicates the intermediate position in which the circuit is closed between the two countersunk terminals 22 and one of the flush tubular terminals 24. The other extreme position is represented in double dotted lines representing a position at which a circuit is closed between the two flush plane surfaced terminals 23 and the other of the two tubular flush surfaced terminals 247 The adjacent terminals 22 and 23 are connected together in pairs as shown in Fig. 6, one pair being supplied with current through a fuse shown only in 1 held in clips 39 and 10. In each of the second and third positions of the mov ing switch contactor, as diagrammed in Fig. "I, one of the contacts engages one of the pair of live terminals 22 and 23 thus supplied with current, and because of the inter-connection of the other pair of terminals 22 and 23 such terminals will be supplied with current through the switch in both of the second and third switch positions. This current goes to the tail light of the vehicle, assuming the switch to be used for automotive purposes.

In the second position of the switch one of the legs of the movable contactor engages one of the terminals 24, marked S in Fig. 6, and in the third switch position the other leg of the movable contactor engages the other of the terminals 24, marked H in Fig. 6. Thereby current is supplied for side and head lamps respectively.

Motion for the oscillation of the moving switch parts is provided by a crank 42, nut- 43 swiveled thereto, rod 44 threaded in the nut and extending through the bushing 15, and handle 45 carried by the rod. The threaded connection between the rod and nut 43 permits adjustment of the handle to exactly the desired relation to the oi the vehicle and the handle is held in the desired position by a lock nut 46. A tension spring at 48 is fastened to rod 44 and has an eye at 49 through which the rod is reciprocable. The spring merely serves to take up side play and to prevent rattle.

It will be found that in a switch operated by push and pull mechanism such as that herein. disclosed there is a tendency for the switch mech-- anism to overrun the intermediate position or positions. It will be noted that there is no external indication of the switch positions and it is necessary, therefore, that the switch be operated by touch.

In order to make possible such operation of the switch I have found it desirable to eliminate substantially all impositive detent devices in the extreme switch positions since I have found that if impositive detents are used in the extreme positions there is a natural tendency for the operator to overrun the intermediate position in freeing the movable switch parts from the detent device at either end of the throw. It is for this reason that I provide different types of terminals as above described. Those terminals which must receive a terminal screw and those terminals which require counterboring for the purpose of the impositive detent above referred to are made tubular as shown at 22 and 24. 9 illustrates how the terminals 24 are provided with flush surfaces, notwithstanding their tubular form. Terminals 22, however, are not only tubular but are counterbored. Terminals 23 on the other hand are neither tubular nor are they recessed in any way. They provide a plane surface flush with the face of the terminal head.

Referring again to Fig. 7 it will be noted that in the off position of the switch as illustrated in single dotted lines one of the curved or semi spherical contact bosses or balls 32 will register with a plane surfaced tubular terminal 24 and one with a plane surfaced solid terminal 23, the other two bosses resting directly on the dielectric terminal head. Since the terminal 24 is not countersunk or recessed the contact boss registering therewith will not be detained to any great degree although it may very slightly enter the tubular portion of the terminal.

In the intermediate switch position as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 7 the same terminal 24 is engaged, this time by the other leg of the contactor, while two of the bosses of the contactor register with the countersunk terminals 22. The entry of these bosses into the countersunk recesses of the terminals in question has a powerful detent action and defines the intermediate switch position very perceptibly.

In the other extreme position of the switch as indicated by double dotted lines the bosses of the contactor register respectively with the solid terminals 23 and the other tubular and plane surfaced terminals 24. In this position there is very 'ttle detent action.

It is to be noted that altho I provide very little detent effect in the first and third switch positions, the parts are incapable of moving materially beyond these positions by virtue of the fact that lug 38 is confined between stops 37 whereby the extreme positions of the moving contactor are predetermined. Because of this arrangement it is possible to manipulate the switch by touch to any of its several positions and it will be found that a switch constructed, as herein disclosed, with a more positive detent at its intermediate position than any restraining force acting in the extreme positions of the contactor, will stop readily at its intermediate position, whereas, if the detent means were alike in all three positions of the contactor, the contactor would, except with extreme care, invariably overrun the intermediate position.

It will be obvious from the foregoing description that I have provided a simple and effective switch construction requiring very little dash space and adapted for economical mounting in a single dash opening. Means has also been pro vided in accordance with the purpose of this invention to enable the moving contactor to be adjusted by touch to any of three positions without material danger of overrunning the intermediate position.

The fact that the conventional switch assembly including casing 20 is mounted at one side of bracket arm 11 and the actuating connection thereto is provided at the opposite side of said arm, makes it possible to substantially align the connection betwen the crank 42 and the actuating rod 44 with the opening in the panel, thereby minimizing the offset of bracket arm 11 and minimizing the strains to which the bracket is subjected in the reciprocation of rod 44.

I claim:

1. In a switch, the combination with a pair of relatively movable contact carriers, of means comprising axially separable parts, certain of said parts being normally movable with said carriers in substantially parallel planes, said parts comprising ball and socket members defining differrelative movement of the contact carriers than other of said means.

2. In a switch, the combination with a pair of relatively movable contact carriers, of a plurality of complementary relatively projecting and recessed means connected with the respective carriers and impositively engageable for the operative definition of predetermined relative carrier positions, more of said means being engaged in an intermediate relative position of said carrier than in other positions thereof, whereby to tangibly increase the resistance to relative movement from said intermediate position as compared with resistance to movement from other positions.

3. In a switch, the combination of two relatively movable contact carriers, contacts carried thereby and positioned for registry in circuit closing relation in two predetermined positions of the carriers with respect t each other, and means comprising ball and socket members relatively movable to and from engagement and tangibly defining three successive carrier positions including said two circuit closing positions and a third open circuit position, the socket members of said means being of differing depth and adapted to oppose movement from the intermediate relative position of said carriers more definitely than from the circuit closing position at the end of the series of positions.

4. In a switch, the combination with a relatively movable contact carrier and contacts carried thereby, of a relatively fixed contact carrier provided with complementary contacts, said contacts being arranged to provide for the registry of complementary contacts of the two carriers in a pluraiity of circuit closing positions of the movable contact carrier in addition to an open circuit position of the movable contact carrier, certain contacts of one of the carriers having depressions arranged to receive the contacts of the other carriers, whereby to afford greater resistance to the carriers at these points.

5. In a switch, the combination with a terminal head provided with terminal contacts in an arouate series, of a contactor spring pressed toward said terminal head and mounted for oscillation with respect thereto, said contactor being pro- Vided with contacts registrable with contacts of the terminal head in the course of relative oscillation therebetween, stops defining extreme positions of the contactor with respect to the head, and impositive detent means defining an intermediate position of the contactor with greater resistance to movement than any resistance offered to movement of the contactor from either of its extreme positions.

6. In a switch, the combination with a terminal head provided with terminal contacts in an arouate series, of a contactor spring pressed toward said terminal head and mounted for oscillation with respect thereto, said contactor being provided with contacts registrable with contacts of the terminal head in the course of relative oscillation therebetween, stops defining extreme positions of the contactor with respect to the head, and impositive detent means defining an intermediate position of the contactor with greater resistance to movement than any resistance offered to movement of the contactor from either of its extreme positions, two consecutive positions of the contactor being circuit closing positions and the third comprising an open circuit position.

7. In a switch, the combination with relatively rotatable contact carriers, of mechanism for defining predetermined contact positions of said carriers, said mechanism comprising ball means and socket means connected with the respective carriers and engageable in predetermined positions thereof, one of said socket means being deeper than another whereby to provide greater resistance to the movement of a ball engaged therein and thereby impositively to define a relative carrier position from which greater pressure is required to produce relative movement between the carriers.

8. In a switch, the combination with a pair of relatively rotatable contact carriers, of axially separable ball and socket means connected with the respective carriers and spring biased for impositive engagement to define different relative positions of said carriers, a plurality of the sock-- ets of said means being deep as compared with other sockets, and a plurality of the balls of said means being simultaneously engageable with the deepened sockets, whereby to avoid greater resistance to the movement of said carriers from the relative position of engagement of said balls and deepened sockets than from other relative carrier positions.

ROBERT K. WINNING. 

